During a gathering over the 2024 holidays, we were discussing our resolutions for the new year. Mine have taken on a different shape than in previous years – a result of doing some things in ‘24 that were big, and often uncomfortable. In other words – great learning experiences. In 2025 they are about nurturing those learning experiences.
My book Why Women Pivot, released in March 2024, is a compilation of lessons I’ve learned, research I’ve done on women’s careers, and stories from other women who have considered and executed pivots. In mid 2024 I did a three-city book tour that culminated in a virtual event in November. The tour was a great opportunity meet some amazing people and get real-life feedback from readers.
Writing the book and the doing the tour put me in new spaces that shined a spotlight on me personally that was uncomfortable space. If I’m being completely honest, stepping into that spotlight was one of the motivating factors for writing it in the first place. As a marketer, I’ve always worked behind the scenes to understand product benefits and strategically align those to customer motivations. As an entrepreneur, I’ve been the one to execute vs dazzle. Writing about these observations allowed me to wrestle with how ambition requires some comfort in the spotlight yet women often struggle there. We navigate leadership roles with a lot of nuance and a lot of societal and family influences that make our careers unique.
If 2024 was about exploration and growth, 2025 will be about connecting these experiences back to my client, speaking, mentoring and board roles. Given the four phases of women’s careers I outlined in WWP, it was helpful to apply this learning construct to my current situation. Here’s how:
Phases of a Career (and a pivot)
- Learning to Learn – During the book writing process I learned that what seems like a solitary effort only happens with the help of different kinds of people to motivate, inspire and give feedback. The writing exposed all the awkwardness that goes with a big learning experience. I was a novice in this space and had to be humbly productive.
- Learning to Accomplish – Once the book was written, the publishing process pushed me to get comfortable in my new identity as an author. The more speaking I did about the concepts in WWP, the more others started seeing me as a subject matter expert. Studying women navigating career pivots has now become a part of my personal brand.
- Learning to Nurture – As readers continue to provide me with feedback it has informed my thinking on how this political and societal moment impacts women’s careers. On a tactical level, I spend time reminding readers to share their reviews on Amazon, B&N, Audible and Apple Books since those reviews feed each platforms’ promotional algorithms and support book sales. Writing a book is a true entrepreneurial venture and I’m stretching to dazzle as the book leads me in new directions as a consultant/advisor, speaker, mentor and board member.
- Learning to Reinvent – Perhaps new products and services will evolve from this intellectual and entrepreneurial journey. As I ponder possibilities, I’m feeling the need to create a feedback loop. Beyond book reviews, I’m continuously interested in hearing women’s stories and encourage them to think about questions like:
- How has the current climate changed sentiments about career ambitions?
- What reactions do women have about several large companies shifting away from diversity policies?
- How did you know it was time for a pivot in your career and what things helped you navigate it?
- How should women be supporting each other through this time of both great accomplishment for women yet a divide in opportunity?
If anyone would like to share their thoughts, please contact me at https://trishbarber.com/contact-me.
BTW, the picture above is one I took during the “Lighting of the Vines” event at Bluemont Vineyards over the holidays. It seemed like a good metaphor for connectivity and clarity in 2025. Since the establishment is located on top of a hill with the vines below, the view is amazing and provided an opportunity for this picture. The wine was pretty good too!
If you’d like more details on my book tour, read the press release here.
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